What has happened? I will use a holistic approach to frame the context.

If reason and rationality are valued, an honest accounting of what actually happened must include, an acknowledgment of the validity of the frustration and anger of the original Tea Party rally attendees. What also must be acknowledged is the fact that fringe groups and individuals aligned themselves with these everyday, average people who attended the rallies. And still more must be acknowledged: main stream groups like the one run by Tom Delay, were providing assistance and guidance early on. A movement was in the making, that is true, but there is more to this than a ground up movement---much as there was more to the Obama movement early on in the primary campaign. I believe both involved the heavy use of astroturfing. (more on this later)

What the Tea Party movement became, and the how it became what it has, is an interesting case study in political movements in this new age of constant noise and manipulation by the media. The media and others are using the latest technology available to meet our expectations of immediate gratification. Those who manipulate, know this and do/use it well.

Take what I have observed as the faux GOP outrage and hysteria at Democrats using parliamentary rules to achieve ends. The GOP drove some people crazy doing the very same during the years they ruled---years they would use rules in ways that strained boundaries.

The GOP has played a game with the Tea Party movement that is nothing more than a tool for regaining power. Don't take only my word for this:

Politically, I get the lets trip up the other side, make them fail strategy, he said. But whats more important, to win extra seats or to shape the most important piece of social legislation since the 1960s? It was a go-for-all-the-marbles approach. Unless they produced an absolute failure for Mr. Obama, there wasnt going to be any political benefit.

---

House Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, warned that the legislation would be the last straw for the American people. Representative Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, proclaimed several hours earlier, Freedom dies a little bit today.

---

When our core group discover that this thing is not as catastrophic as advertised, they are going to be less energized than they are right now,

The GOP has been playing a game that looks to winning extra seats in Congress and elsewhere and not on of shaping "the most important piece of social legislation since the 1960s" which is what they were elected to do.

For the past few decades the GOP has been all about power and the heck with their base constituencies and others. Party over Country.

What has happened? I will use a holistic approach to frame the context.

If reason and rationality are valued, an honest accounting of what actually happened must include, an acknowledgment of the validity of the frustration and anger of the original Tea Party rally attendees. What also must be acknowledged is the fact that fringe groups and individuals aligned themselves with these everyday, average people who attended the rallies. And still more must be acknowledged: main stream groups like the one run by Tom Delay, were providing assistance and guidance early on. A movement was in the making, that is true, but there is more to this than a ground up movement---much as there was more to the Obama movement early on in the primary campaign. I believe both involved the heavy use of astroturfing. (more on this later)

What the Tea Party movement became, and the how it became what it has, is an interesting case study in political movements in this new age of constant noise and manipulation by the media. The media and others are using the latest technology available to meet our expectations of immediate gratification. Those who manipulate, know this and do/use it well.

Take what I have observed as the faux GOP outrage and hysteria at Democrats using parliamentary rules to achieve ends. The GOP drove some people crazy doing the very same during the years they ruled---years they would use rules in ways that strained boundaries.

The GOP has played a game with the Tea Party movement that is nothing more than a tool for regaining power. Don't take only my word for this:

Politically, I get the lets trip up the other side, make them fail strategy, he said. But whats more important, to win extra seats or to shape the most important piece of social legislation since the 1960s? It was a go-for-all-the-marbles approach. Unless they produced an absolute failure for Mr. Obama, there wasnt going to be any political benefit.

---

House Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, warned that the legislation would be the last straw for the American people. Representative Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, proclaimed several hours earlier, Freedom dies a little bit today.

---

When our core group discover that this thing is not as catastrophic as advertised, they are going to be less energized than they are right now,

The GOP has been playing a game that looks to winning extra seats in Congress and elsewhere and not on of shaping "the most important piece of social legislation since the 1960s" which is what they were elected to do.

For the past few decades the GOP has been all about power and the heck with their base constituencies and others. Party over Country.

Click to expand...

It is rare we see eye to eye, but I agree with much you say here.

However, I noticed that you only mnetion this as an issue with the GOP.

It is not. Sadly the DEMS were so much wrapped up in party over country, they have opened a pandoras box that may never be closed...and as with the tea partyers, the democratic party has many on the left ignoring how the people are not necessartily being served...they are strictly the benefactors of an agenda....

The fact that many saw no problem with the gaming the game we just saw is proof of this. It opened the door for the GOP to game the game as well when they have the power to do so...and the partisnashiop on the left allowed this door to open....just as the arrogance of the right allowed the GOP to get away with things...that we now see are being applied to more pertinent legislation.

I do not know if it was a typo...but your tilte says America and the TP's are the losers.

I disagree. They did all they could. They just didn't have the numbers in the end. This Dem-led Congress is by far the dirtiest Congress i've ever seen. They pulled out every dirty trick imaginable to pass their debacle. The Republicans stood up and fought but in the end just didn't have the numbers. For the first time in years i'm actually proud of the Republican Party. This Bill is just wrong for the country on so many levels. People will begin to realize that in the coming years. When the IRS comes knocking for those unpaid fines or "taxes" for not buying Health Insurance,i think that's when it's going to hit home for many Americans who just weren't paying attention to what the Democrats did. I actually applaud the Republicans. Worst U.S. Congress in History? You bet.

You guys obviously have no idea what you are talking about.... Do you guys even have a clue how many votes it takes to pass something???? FYI - In case CNN hasn't told you yet... The Democrats don't need Republican support... It wasn't Republicans holding this up... It was your own damn party....

You better kill the country as much as possible because come November it is going to be a long time until the Dems get back in power... This is something that won't quickly be forgotten...

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